Suction cleaner



Nav. 1o, 1931. y H, B. WHITE 1,831,551

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Fb. 17, 1950 20 fr; l l?.

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Patented Nov. 10, 1931 y UNITED vs'rfras vPATENT OFFICE:A

HARRY .'B. WHITE, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, OF NORTE CANTON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION 0F OHIO SUCTION CLEANER Application led 'February 17, 1930. Serial No. 428,869.

The `present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to means for adjusting the height of the suction cleaner nozzle above the surface covering undergoing cleaning. More specifically the invention relates to new and novel means for adjusting the front wheels of a suction cleaner relative to the suction cleaner proper so that the cleaner is pivoted about the rear supporting wheels as an aXis.

A suction cleaner must be adapted for use upon surface coverings of various thicknesses and degrees of stiness and, in order that the machine may always function with maximum elliciency, it is necessary that the lips of the nozzle of thesuctioncleaner contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning, for without such contact the air enters the nozzle of the cleaner without passing over or through the surface covering and performs no useful function. lWhen used upon a surface covering in which the pile or nap is relatively short, the front supporting wheels, which are positioned closely adjacent to the nozzle of the cleaner, will rest substantially upon the top of the surface covering without sinking into it and itis necessary to adjust the nozzle to a relatively low position in order that the nozzle lips may contact the covering. lf, after the cleaner has been adjusted for eflicient operation upon such a covering it is removed to a covering provided with long and soft pile into which the front supporting wheels will sink the nozzle lips will not only contact the top of the pile of the covering but will extend thereinto resulting in a condition in which thefcleaner is hard to operate and in which it functions with reduced efficiency. In order to correct such an undesirable condition it is necessary to raise the nozzle relative to the surface covering so that its lips rest lightly thereon. By means of the present invention the 4necessary adjustment of the nozzle may be accomplished.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and novel means for adjusting the height of the suction cleaner nozzle relative to the surface covering. A further object is the provision of means by which the nozzle height adjustment is accomplished with a minimum of effort and in which the adjustment once made is positive and permanent until intentionally altered. A still further object of the invention is the provision of novel height adjusting means in a suction cleaner by which the suction cleaner nozzley may be raised or lowered relative to the surface covering undergoing cleaning through thepivoting of the cleanerA about the rear supporting wheels as an axis. Another object ofthe invention is the provision of an easily accessible nozzle height adjusting means. Other and more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and taking into consideration the drawings annexed thereto.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure l discloses a partial side view of a suction cleaner embodying the present invention with certainparts broken away.

Figure 2 disclosesa partial top view 'of a suction cleanen embodying the present invention with certain portions of the wheel lpocket broken away in order that the invention may be clearly shown.

Figure 3 discloses a view upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawings and in Figure l in particular, the forward portion of a suction cleaner is shown and comprises a main casing l which forms the suction nozzle 2 and the fan chamber 3 within which is positioned a fan which is not shown. Two rearwardly and inwardly extending vertical walls l and 5 provide pockets at the two rear corners of the nozzle 2 for a purpose which is hereinafter described. A bottom plate 6 is carried by the walls i and 5 and cooperates with them to provide an air passage extending from the mouth of the nozzle 2 in the direction of the eye of the fan chamber in the fan casing 3.

A separately formed housing member 7,

` ures and comprise the parts found in the usual suction cleaner. Around the lower edges of the nozzle 2 is positioned a relatively soft resilient guard member which is secured to the rearward wall of the nozzle by means of rivets 11, 11 and which serves to protect objects of furniture with which the cleaner may come into contact.

Positioned within each ofr the wheel pockets, formed by the walls "4 and 5 and the outer walls of the nozzle 2, are front supporting wheels, indicated by the reference characters 12, 12.A Wheels 12, 12 are carried by short axles 13, 13 upon the extended ends of which are pivotally mounted the ends of links 14, 14 and 15, 15. A nut 16 is threaded upon one end of each shaft 13, the other end being upset, to maintain the assembly in operative relation.`

The links 15, 15 are *pivotally mounted at one of their ends to pins 17, 17 which are carried by the rearwardly extending outer wallsof the nozzle 2 immediatelytin the rear of the juncture of that wall with the walls '4 or 5. 4The links 14, 14 extend forwardly and lupwardly from the shafts 13,13 and enclose lat their opposite ends, the eccentrics 18, 18 which are lixedly carried by the transversely extending shaft 19 which is supported by bearings 20, 20 in the walls 4 and 5.

Carried at the ends of the shaft 19 and seated withi recessed seats 21, 21 in the side walls of the nozzle are the circular plates 22 and 23 which prevent the longitudinal displacement of shaft 19. Plate 23 is formed as a manually rotatable knob vand comprises a circular body-portion 24 which is provided on its inner side with spaced recesses 25, 25 and, on its outer side,l with a protruding wall 26 of suliicient height that it may be readily l grasped by the fingers of the operator. Positioned immediately below the operating knob-member 23 ,and secured by means'. of a rivet 27 to the lwall of the nozzle is a spring detent 2,8 the upper end. of which coacts with` one of the recesses 25 in the inner side of the cylindrical body portion 24 of the adjusting member 23 to maintain the position of that Lmember in the absence of a posit-ive turningl torque. v

The operation of the nozzle height adjusting means constructed in accordance with the present invention, is as follows z-The operator turns the knob23 at the side of thenozzle by means of the protruding wall 26 and the shaft 19, being fixedly Dconnected to the knob, rotates with it as do the eccentrics 18, 18. As the eccentrics move about the axis ofthe shaft 19 the arms or links 14, 14 are either raised or lowered, depending upon the direction of rotation, and, de ending` whether arms 14, 14` are raised or owered, the wheels 12, 12 which'are attached tothe ends of the arms are also raised or lowered about the pins 17, 17 as an axis, they being pivoted thereabout by means of the links 15, 15. As the knob 23 rotates the springdetent 28 engages and disengages the successive recesses 25, 25 in the inner surface of plate 24, it being only necessary to exert a slight turning torque to overcome the locking tendency thereof. Upon the desired adjustment being secured the knob 23 is ro- ,tated so that detent 28 engages a recess in which relation it provides suflicient resistance to the rotation of shaft 19 to prevent the loss of the adjustment by means of vany turning torque which might be transmitted to the cams 18, 18 from the wheels. 4

l claim 1. 1n a suction cleaner, a casing including a nozzle, nozzle height adjusting means comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft mounted on said casing, an eccentric carried by said shaftL'a supporting wheel, an arm connected to said eccentric and to said wheeland rotatable about the axis of each, and a second arm pivoted to said casing and rotatablyconnected to said wheel, said parts cooperating forthe purpose'described. l

2. ln a suction cleaner a casing including a nozzle, a horizontal rotatable shaft mounted on said casing, an eccentric rigidly carried by said shaft, an arm pivoted to said' casing, a supporting wheel carried by said arm, a second arm pivotally connected to `said `first-mentioned arm and to said eccentric and` cooperating with said first mentioned arm to position said wheel, and means onv said casing to rotate'said shaft and moveV said wheel relativeto said casing.`

l 3. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle casing, rearwardlys and inwardly extending walls in said casing forming pockets at the corners thereof, supporting wheels in said aol pockets and means to synchronously adjust the position of said wheels relative to said casing comprising a rotatable shaft extend- -ing across said casing and lthrough said pockets, eccentrics rigidly carried by said shaft in said pockets, means connected to said wheels and to said eccentrics, and means to rotate said shaft. y

4. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle casing, rearwardly and lnwardly vextending walls in said-casing forming pockets at the corners thereof, supportin wheels in said tpockets and means to sync ronously adjust the position of said wheels relative to said casing comprisin a shaft rotatably mounted in said Vwalls an extending across Said casing, eccentrics rigidly carried by said shaft in said sockets, arms rotatably mounted on said eccentrics and connected to said su porting wheels, and means positioned outsi e said casing to rotate said shaft.

Signed at North Canton, in the county of Stark, and State of Ohio, this 12th day of February, A. D., 1930. v

HARRY B. WHITE. 

